2-day ‘Goosenecks Music Festival’ combines music, nature, service

Tents are set up in the future site of the Goosenecks Music Festival on the Red River Ranch in Torrey, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Goosenecks Music Festival, St. George News

TORREY — When a group of university students and music lovers attending Brigham Young University couldn’t find a music festival in Utah they wanted to attend, they decided to create one. Enter: “Goosenecks Music Festival” a two-day outdoor music festival slated to be held Aug. 19-20 in Torrey, just outside Capitol Reef National Park.

Tents are set up in the future site of the Goosenecks Music Festival on the Red River Ranch in Torrey, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Goosenecks Music Festival, St. George News

The brainchild of Thomas Clawson and Max Metcalf, Goosenecks Music Festival was named for Goosenecks Overlook in Capitol Reef and is being billed as an outdoor music experience where guests can enjoy 32 different bands as well as the nearby national park and recreation opportunities found in and around Torrey.

Clawson said in respect to founding the festival that it was his love of music that drove him to start searching for a good festival in Utah to go to but when his search came up short he and Metcalf decided they would create their own.

Clawson and Metcalf were soon joined by like-minded friends, Austin Demordaunt, Conner Ludlow, Coulter Reynolds, Brooke Alius, Christine Brothers and Cory Pinnegar in their quest to create a music festival that highlighted the best of music, Utah and music in Utah.

Here’s our story. We love music. We love Utah. We didn’t have a festival to go to. So we decided to build one.

Perhaps taking a cue from “Field of Dreams,” and the famous line; “If you build it, (they) will come,” Clawson, Metcalf and crew have assembled a strong lineup of bands including headliners, Young the Giant and Purity Ring as well as a list of talented Utah artists who are all set to play at the festival’s venue; The Lodge at Red River Ranch.

The lineup for the Goosenecks Music Festival, location and date not specified | Image courtesy of Goosenecks Music Festival, St. George News

Clawson said they knew they wanted to hold the festival in south central Utah and described finding the Red River Ranch as a serendipitous occasion.

The ranch has over 2,000 acres of grass and sage pastures as well as alfalfa fields which are perfect for setting up a large camping and music venue. Festival founders were doubly lucky when, while touring the area, they discovered that a stage had already been built in the fields.

“It was like a needle in a haystack,” Clawson said. “We found this big stage, the farmer had built it like 15 years ago, it was like a big miracle and in August we are going to have the greatest party there.”

A party it may be, but these college kids have big plans to do some good with the festival as well.

“We will be doing five separate service projects during the festival and five percent of our proceeds will go to benefit refugees,” said Conner Ludlow, who is doing public relations for the festival.

“We are expecting 5,000-8,000 people, and with that many people we can make a huge difference,” Ludlow said.

The service aspect of the festival is motivated by a belief in God the organizers all share, Clawson said and how important it is to exercise their beliefs by helping others.

“We have this opportunity to do good but a lot of people don’t know how to help these refugees,” Clawson said. “We have created a way to give back that is really prevalent right now.”

Ludlow hopes that through music and the beauty of Utah’s landscape, the festival can inspire a desire in others to do good..

Goosnecks Music Festival

The festival is a two-day music and outdoor experience designed to give guests the best of both the music scene and the outdoor world. Attendees are encouraged to spend time exploring Capitol Reef National Park and the surrounding area and return to the venue at will to listen to their favorite bands.

“We want people to explore the national park while they are here,” Clawson said, “and go for a hike.”

Views from the Red River Ranch in Torrey, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Goosenecks Music Festival, St. George News

Camping will be available on the premises in 10 foot by 15 foot spots. No vehicles will be allowed on the camping field so campers should plan to park in a designated area and carry in their camping gear. Festival goers are welcome to secure their own lodging in the area and should be aware that hotel rooms and camping spots fill up fast so advanced reservations are recommended.

Activities such as a giant slip and slide, water balloon sling shots and water twister will keep guests cool and having fun throughout the weekend.

Goosenecks Music Festival is an all ages event. Tickets are required for every individual.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased for a single day, as a two-day package or as a camping and festival package.

For more information including a complete lineup of artists, ticket purchasing and a list of frequently asked questions visit the Goosenecks Music Festival website.

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Goosenecks Music Festival logo, location and date not specified | Image courtesy of Goosenecks Music Festival, St. George News

The lineup for the Goosenecks Music Festival, location and date not specified | Image courtesy of Goosenecks Music Festival, St. George News

A stage is set up in a field at the Red River Ranch in Torrey, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of the Goosenecks Music Festival, St. George News

Tents are set up in the future site of the Goosenecks Music Festival on the Red River Ranch in Torrey, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Goosenecks Music Festival, St. George News

Views from the Red River Ranch in Torrey, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Goosenecks Music Festival, St. George News